Monday, July 14, 2014

FARNBOROUGH, England -- F-35 fighters still stands a chance of showing up at the Farnborough International Airshow as engineers work to restore clearance. Military chiefs and the international consortium that built the Lockheed Martin jet are hopeful four planes due to appear at the U.K. event will be able to cross the Atlantic, U.S. Defense Undersecretary Frank Kendall said at a briefing in Farnborough. The plane was grounded following an engine fire on June 23 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where pilots and maintainers are trained. The fire is thought to have been caused by friction between blades and the cowl around them. The jet has already missed an appearance at the naming of a U.K. aircraft carrier from which it will serve, the Royal International Air Tattoo and the first day of the Farnborough show, which runs until Sunday. (Source: Bloomberg, 07/14/14)